2011 NFL Draft Mailbag

NFL Draft Mailbag Notes: These are not actually e-mails. They are comments left on the comment board in my 2011 NFL Mock Draft. I've included some of these comments and my responses to them.

3/7/11

2011 NFL Draft E-mails - Random Questions and Comments

From Brawley:

Cam Newton the first overall pick???? C'mon your ribbing me here. This is some kind of gag right?

--> Cam Newton is one of three players being considered for the No. 1 overall pick. The other two are Da'Quan Bowers and Marcell Dareus. If Blaine Gabbert has an incredible Pro Day, he'll be the fourth. The great Adam Schefter predicted that the top pick would be a quarterback. I dare not go against the great Schefter.

I'll discuss all of Carolina's possibilities in a detailed article tomorrow.

From Stevo:

I just cant see the Browns taking a WR at number 6. They need D line man. I am not sold on Quinn. I think Patrick Peterson falls to the Browns at 6. Maybe Maybe Bowers drops to the Browns at 6.

--> Really? I was under the impression that all Browns fans wanted a receiver. I know they need a defensive lineman, but they also desperately have to get a No. 1 receiver, and A.J. Green is the best player available at that juncture.

From Nathan:

As reasonable as I can, I'm gonna have to disagree with you as far as the Seahawks go, not because of their picks, but who they're NOT picking. The Seahawks biggest need may be Offensive Line. Yet, you have them taking a CB, DE, FB, WR, QB, and SS???

--> Consider this an oversight. I really need to give the Seahawks an offensive lineman at some point in my mock. I'll do that in the next update.

From VikesRules:

vikings should get a QB in 1st rd a de in 2nd a cb in 4th a ot and wr in 5th and fs in 6

--> Teams don't think this way. If they settled on a particular position in each round, they might miss out on a much better player that would also satisfy some sort of need. Teams have a big board and go off of that.

From Wes:

I like thie Julio Jones pick for washington but the locker pick makes no sense. Washington is not going to select two offensive players with their first two picks the front seven is too much of a need to ignore

--> So you want your quarterback to be Rex Grossman next year? The Redskins have so many needs, one of which is the quarterback position. Why would they pass on a quarterback just to take a defensive player?

From Go Pack:

What I don't get is why the heck you are putting Cameron Heyward in the second round. He is too beastly!

--> I had major problems fitting Cameron Heyward into the recent version of my 2011 NFL Mock Draft, but there was just no room for him in the back end of my first round.

From Go Eliot:

Question regarding Pats pick at #17...Why would you write "Other five-techniques not named J.J. Watt are options as well." I've seen a lot of mocks that have Watt going to the Pats at exactly this spot. Thanks, Eliot

--> J.J. Watt's agent is Tom Condon. The Patriots have a policy not to deal with any of Condon's clients because of an ugly incident that occurred with Ben Watson several years ago. New England has not drafted a Condon player since.